Chicken companies’ flock supervisors awarded at conference

At Delmarva Poultry Industry Inc.’s 54th National Meeting on Poultry Health, Processing, and Live Production, nine flock supervisors from Delmarva’s five chicken companies received Outstanding Flock Supervisor awards.

Flock supervisors work with independent chicken growers as a liaison between farmer and chicken company.

The honored flock supervisors were: Elizabeth Foxwell, Perdue Foods; Tim Hite, Amick Farms; Jeff Hudson, Amick Farms (a six-time award recipient); Mickey Justice, Tyson Foods (a two-time recipient); Kyle McAllister, Perdue Foods; Hunter Murray, Perdue Foods; Brett Sellers, Mountaire Farms; Brandon Stoffel, Mountaire Farms; and Kristen Tarr, Allen Harim (a two-time recipient).

“Flock supervisors have increasingly difficult and complex jobs,” said Jennifer Timmons, DPI’s president and a former flock supervisor. “To many growers, you are the company, and you’re building relationships with your growers. Many growers look to you as a friend. And you are doing all of this while dealing with the company’s needs that reflect consumer demand.”

“Flock supervisors make critical connections between a chicken company and an independent family farmer,” said Holly Porter, DPI’s executive director. “We’re proud of these honorees, whose work is vital for the success of the whole chicken community.”

DPI hosted the National Meeting on Poultry Health, Processing, and Live Production Oct. 7-9 in Ocean City, Md. More than 24 veterinarians, chicken company leaders, government officials, researchers, extension educators and animal health officials delivered talks on topics ranging from animal antibiotic use to food safety to litter management to biosecurity. 

Delmarva Poultry Industry Inc. is the 1,700-member nonprofit trade association for the Delmarva Peninsula’s meat chicken industry. For more information, go to www.dpichicken.org.